Getting the greens back on track

Without question, the most frequent comment from members during the last couple of weeks was in regards to the amount of grass that appears on the greens surface.  Overall, players weren't necessarily unhappy with the roll or speed, just that they looked "shaggy".  Well, I'm here to tell you, you are right!  And trust me, it's a good thing.

With the drought stress, heat stress, traffic stress, and long days we have experienced during the last three weeks or so, we have implemented practices designed to maximize the health of the greens.  As I've commented numerous times, when you are growing grass at 1/8th of an inch (especially if it's Poa), it doesn't hold up well in extreme weather conditions.  To "nurse" the greens through the hottest, driest, most stressful period on record, it was necessary to "back off" our usual regimen of practices and suffer less than our desired green speed.  It also didn't help that the hot weather really makes what bentgrass (not Poa) we have on the greens grow like gangbusters.  Ultimately, the thriving bentgrass has been noticably encroaching into the weakened Poa which is great.  Anytime we can increase the population of bentgrass on the surface it is a really good thing.

Now, with the immediate forecast looking a lot closer to "normal" (whatever that is now), days beginning to shorten, and we get closer to September, we can get back to carefully working on providing a higher quality putting surface and "push" the greens just a little.  Perhaps more of a "nudge" than a push, but we want them faster just as much as you do.

Yesterday, we put the grooved rollers back on the greensmowers, and tomorrow, will be very slightly decreasing our height of cut gradually down to our normal daily height.  We will add a double cut or two into the rotation along with rolling after we mow 3-5 times per week depending, of course, on whether or not the greens decide to "push back".  Should the greens remain healthy, we may do a very light "groom" with the vertical groomers on our greensmowers.  This will stand the turf up, "groom" the canopy and provide a smoother, quicker surface.

Now keep in mind, it is still July and the potential for more stressful weather is quite high.  We are by no means out of the woods yet.  Should the greens begin to suffer, we will be augmenting practices as necessary to protect our greens.  September will bring ideal conditions.  In the meantime, we are trying to give you the best performing surfaces we can.

Now I realize the timing is a little suspicious, what with the Jamie Farr starting in little more than a week, but I assure you I am NOT doing this for them.  I would be doing this regardless for our members and guests.  Now cross your fingers and hope for good grass-growing weather.